The History of YVR

It all started with a slight by one of history's greatest aviators, Charles Lindbergh. Following his solo, non-stop transatlantic flight in 1927, Lindbergh was invited to visit Vancouver as part of his triumphant tour of North American cities. He declined, saying, "There is no fit field to land on."

Though community pride was wounded, Lindbergh's comments helped spur local civic action to replace the grass airstrip at Minoru Park that served as the city's airport. In 1929, still smarting from the Lindbergh's rebuff and anxious to get in on the aviation craze, the City of Vancouver approved $600,000 to build a new airport. The same year, a site on Sea Island was purchased for $300,000 and so began the development of Vancouver International Airport.